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Ch7 Damage Control

We need to talk... things are not going well-Mary

After reading the text Mycroft sighed and called for his PA.

"Yes Mr. Holmes." Anthea said as she entered his office.

"Would you be so kind as to get me some tea and anything sweet you can manage."

"Of course." She turned and left the room.

He dialed Mary's number.

"Mycroft." Mary said.

"I assume this is a good time."

"Yes it's fine, John's at the hospital. When was the last time you spoke with Sherlock?"

"Earlier today, we had a short meeting however Molly didn't come up."

"Well she's not really giving him the time of the day, she basically told him that she doesn't believe he ever cared for her because of what he did to Janine."

Mycroft sighed rubbing his hand over his forehead, "Of everything you could have told her, you chose the fake engagement?" He asked.

"It seemed better than her thinking that Sherlock had a secret girlfriend for all of a month then proposed to her, anyway it was the truth. I didn't know it was going to make her question their entire relationship. I was very conservative with my information. Sounds like by the end of the conversation she may have actually hurt Sherlock's feelings. This is bad isn't it?"

"When did this happen?"

"Last night, how was he when you saw him?" She asked nervously.

"He was Sherlock. He seemed a little distracted but I assumed it was due to the case. He's still convinced it's a hoax since nothing else has happened."

"Ya, I wanted to ask you about that, why now? Why did you pick right now to try to push those two together?" Mary asked.

"Mrs. Watson, there will always be a case, always be a distraction or an excuse for Sherlock not to take the proper actions and act on his feelings for Miss Hooper. What do they say... no time like the present? You were suppose to be handling her, or have I put too much faith in you?"

"Of course not! But Molly has put her heart on the line over and over again, she's just tired of having it smashed into bits Mycroft. He needs to be made aware of his own feelings and soon, then he needs to do something and it needs to be big! That's all on you! I'll keep working on her, she does seem feel bad about how they left things. Had a good cry about it. Poor girl, I was half a mind to go over there myself and give the big idiot a nice slap myself by the time we were done talking. She finally stands up for herself and he made her feel guilty." Mary fumed.

"Okay Mrs. Watson calm down. Do remember your blood pressure. I'll see what I can accomplish. Thank you for the update." Mycroft hung up and that's when Anthea walked in with a tray, "As always your timing my dear, is impeccable."

"I got you the ones with the extra cream sir, you seemed like you needed them." She said with a wink.

Mycroft just smiled.

The next day Mycroft went to Baker Street when he knew Molly would be at work, it was time for a little heart to heart with Sherlock.

"I don't have anything new for you Mycroft, I would contact you if I did." He said from his kitchen lab.

"This is more of a social visit." Mycroft said as he deposited his coat and umbrella near the door.

"Ya, been meaning to ask you, are you on some kind of antidepressants or hormone therapy? You are acting decidedly odd lately." Sherlock said as he joined him in the sitting room.

"Just because I'm being kind to my little brother... Okay, yes I can see how that may alarm you. Fine, I'll explain myself." Mycroft took a seat across from Sherlock, "I've made a lot of mistakes," Sherlock's eyebrows shot up into his hairline. "Don't look at me like that, I can admit when I'm wrong."

"I've always known you could, Mycroft I've just never actually heard you do it before. Okay, so you've made mistakes, what does that have to do with your sudden acquisition of a heart?"

Mycroft had many reasons for wanting to help Sherlock. Molly had opened his heart in many ways, but in doing so she'd had also made him see how he, himself had almost been the cause of Sherlock's downfall.

"I gave James Moriarty the information to get close to you, it's my fault we're here Sherlock. I'm not proud of the fact that I nearly destroyed my baby brother and..." Mycroft swallowed, "Is there scotch?" He said looking around.

Sherlock jumped up and rushed to the kitchen, he returned shortly with two glasses and a bottle.

"Thank you." Mycroft said clearing his throat and taking a drink. "So as I was saying, these mistakes... I intend to make amends for them."

Sherlock tried to marry this version of Mycroft with the one he had known his whole life. His brother had always been cold and distant. Sherlock had a few memories from early childhood of a playful and happy Mycroft Holmes, but most of those had been replaced by the government official who would do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals for Queen and country. This Mycroft was a different animal altogether.

"Okay, Mycroft how do you plan to make amends, as you see I'm fine." Then a thought occurred to Sherlock, "Wait, the broadcast... was this your doing?"

Mycroft smiled sadly, "I wish it were, but I can not take credit for sparing you're life Sherlock. Someone did though, and for that I can't help but be grateful. No, I simply want to bring something to your attention but I must ask that you keep an open mind, please. I fear your instinct will be to shut down... that too, I fear, may be my doing."

"Okay I'll try Mycroft, besides my interest is officially piqued." Sherlock replied.

Mycroft chuckled as he took another sip of his scotch. "I had hoped to not have to come right out and ask this question, but rather that you would figure it out on you own, I digress... Sherlock, is it at all possible that you have feelings for Dr. Hooper?"

Sherlock could honestly say of all the things that he thought were likely to come out of his brother's mouth, this was the not it. He had no idea how to respond to him, so he drank down the rest of his scotch in one painful gulp.

"It's okay Sherlock, I've known for quite some time how you feel about her. If it's any conciliation she appears to be unaware."

Sherlock was still staring at his brother like he couldn't believe his ears.

"Brother dear, there is nothing to be afraid of. I'm not here to scold you on the evils of sentiment. Quite the contrary... I find Molly Hooper to be one of the finest people that I have ever had the good fortune of knowing. I had hoped if someone were to bring it to your attention then you'd finally do something about it before it was too late."

Sherlock continued to stare, so Mycroft poured him another finger of scotch. "Sherlock, conversations usually go two ways, you seem to have lapsed into a state of catatonia. Should I contact John?"

At the threat of calling John Sherlock was suddenly shaken from his shock, "NO! Don't call John, what makes you think I have feelings for Molly?" Then he took another large drink from his glass.

"Observations and deductions. It's quite obvious to me as well as to Mrs. Watson, don't worry she has no intention of sharing this with her husband, it's our little secret."

Sherlock stood up very quickly but must have forgotten about the nearly two glasses of scotch he had imbibed because he stumbled a bit as he started pacing. After his first few laps around the room he said, "You're wrong, Molly is my friend and I care about her, her well being but that's it. She's important to my work and cases, but that's all. She helped, she saved my life so of course she will always be someone I trust but that's as far as our relationship goes. You – you don't understand us, we've finished with all that - that nonsense. She doesn't even feel the same anymore, her little crush... that's all behind us, I don't love Molly Hooper!" He never stopped pacing during his speech.

"Sherlock," Sherlock finally stopped turned and looked at his brother, "I didn't say anything about love."

"You're crazy, we don't... I don't love," He said gesturing with his hands between himself and Mycroft, "this is insane."

Still hung up on the love part, little brother? Mycroft thought.

"Sherlock, calm down. Sit." Mycroft nudged him back into his chair. "Yes, I too once thought that love was a disdainful emotion, but how ridiculous. We love Mummy and Pappa, we love each other even if we don't say it. You clearly love the Watson's or you wouldn't have blown a man's face off in front of more than a dozen witnesses for them. You love Mrs. Hudson don't you? And in name of full disclosure I should tell you that I'm in love with Amanda."

"Who?" Sherlock asked in utter disbelief.

"Oh, yes... Anthea, that of course isn't her real name."

"What?" Sherlock gasped. "What has gotten into you?"

"Sherlock I'm not a secret Nazi, I'm in love with a woman, as it turns out it's perfectly natural."

"If your intention was to shock me with this little meeting Mycroft I can assure you, mission accomplished." Sherlock looked as if he just caught his parents having sex.

"Okay, let's look at the facts."

"Facts? Like apparently you're shagging your PA!"

Mycroft rolled his eyes, "Like the fact that you've run off all of Molly's boyfriends, you won't work with anyone else at that hospital, she is the only person other than me who knew you were alive for two years after the Fall, and I happen to know you visited her home while you were dead. Even sometimes when she didn't know you were there."

With that Sherlock's eyes seemed as if they were going to bug out of his head. Ha! Got you little brother, Mycroft though with a smile.

Thanks for reading! So much more to come, we're just heating up!